Tag Archive for: Grace

America – A Blessed and Beautiful Nation

While waiting to enter the sanctuary one Sunday morning, a young boy saw a plaque with names on it.  Pulling his mother over to it, he proceeded to ask her what it was about.

Quietly, the boy’s mom explained that the names on it were for those from the community who had passed away in the service.

Without missing a beat, the young man asked, “Mom, did they die in the morning or evening service?”

We are often inundated with calls to separate faith from government.  Yet, the Bible lays a foundation for the behavior to be modeled by citizens.  Respecting our leaders, serving one’s nation and loving others – even those with whom we may not agree, are ways in which we can honor our Father.

Along these lines, many American believers have answered the call of their nation in times of war and peace.  Still others have found different ways to show their allegiance to the nation that they call home through other various acts of service.

In every age, and among each generation, there has been strife and conflict.  We shouldn’t expect any more or less, since we’re all human.  Yet, America is a sum – a total, of the people who call it “Home”.  From the diversity of its population to the brilliant landscapes, we remember with a grateful heart all that God has blessed us with.  It’s along these lines that many old church hymnals included a few patriotic anthems amongst their pages, as Christians chose to be thankful for God’s blessings on their land and petitioned their Creator to protect and draw them back to Him.

I hope that the following words will serve as a reminder of the blessings that God has bestowed on this nation.

“AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL”

Katharine Lee Bates, 1893

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet,
Whose stern, impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine,
Till all success be nobleness,
And every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

(Please follow us on Facebook at “The Rural Journal” and online at www.theruraljournal.com. This was first published at www.theroadreport.wordpress.com.)

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A Story of Love and Faith

It may look like another small country church. Yet, it’s part of my family’s story.

Today is Dad and Mom’s anniversary. This is where they exchanged their wedding vows before God, family and friends many years ago.

Having moved away long ago, our family hasn’t attended here since I was a young boy. Today, we only make it back for an occasional visit to the neighboring cemetery.

This picture reminds me of the importance of God in my parents’ lives. Commitment, love, faithfulness and grace are some of the many lessons that they are still passing on through their example.

We live in a world that is filled with many distractions. Yet, this old church reminds me of lessons taught by Dad and Mom: to remain committed to God and our families.

Have a great day!😀

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails…” – 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a (NIV)

(This was first published at theroadreport.wordpress.com.)

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Combining Oats

It’s a scene that looks like it could have taken place nearly seventy years ago. However, the year is 2021 and an Amish farmer is using a team of horses with a pull-type combine.

Today, most of us are used to seeing farmers operating modern self-powered combines, equipped with the latest, most-advanced technology. Yet, there are those who use older pieces of equipment.

This farmer is working only a few miles from where I live. Several of his neighbors still cut their oat fields using older binders – and then have to go back and make shocks. Likewise, some English (non-Amish) farmers with small farms cut wheat by using old pull-type combines ran behind tractors.

These oats will be used as livestock feed during the coming winter. The chaff will most likely be raked and baled as straw for animal bedding.

As I look at this picture, I’m reminded that we often reap what we sow. Crops grown in good conditions will often produce a good yield. A lot of work is involved including planting, cultivating and harvesting.

Seeing this horse-drawn combine may cause us to ask what we’re growing. Do our lives yield kindness, generosity and concern for others?

Let’s work at producing crops that reveal our care for others.

Have a great day! 😀

“A man reaps what he sows.” – Galatians 6:7b (NIV)

(This was first published at theroadreport.wordpress.com.)

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For the Beauty of the Earth

We live in a world that is often filled with commotion, turmoil and noise.

Sometimes we need to unplug and get away from the distractions around us, allowing us to reflect on God’s love for us.

As I was thinking about this photograph that my wife took a few weeks ago, this song came to mind.  It had been awhile since I had last heard it, but I believe that the words capture this picture beautifully.

Have a great day! 🙂

For the Beauty of the Earth

‎Written by:  Folliott Sandford Pierpoint‎, 1864

Public Domain

For the beauty of the earth,
for the glory of the skies,
for the love which from our birth
over and around us lies;
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.

For the beauty of each hour
of the day and of the night,
hill and vale, and tree and flower,
sun and moon, and stars of light;
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.

For the joy of ear and eye,
for the heart and mind’s delight,
for the mystic harmony,
linking sense to sound and sight;
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.

For the joy of human love,
brother, sister, parent, child,
friends on earth and friends above,
for all gentle thoughts and mild;
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.

For thy church, that evermore
lifteth holy hands above,
offering up on every shore
her pure sacrifice of love;
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.

For thyself, best Gift Divine,
to the world so freely given,
for that great, great love of thine,
peace on earth, and joy in heaven:
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our hymn of grateful praise.


(This was first published at theroadreport.wordpress.com.)

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Beauty of a Simple Faith

It looks as if these rows of corn shocks could go on forever.

For me, fall has always been one of my favorite times of the year. There’s a silent calming effect that I feel as I observe harvested fields, and seevlawns and gardens being tidied up before winter sets in.

As this picture shows, harvest is the culmination of a lot of hard work, sweat and likely, much prayer.

Farming and gardening require much doing on the part of the ones who tend the fields and gardens. Yet, they also insist on the farmer or gardener to have much faith – regardless of the yield.

Looking at these shocks a second time, it seems as if they reach into the heavens. They remind us of the One who continually blesses, loves and watches over us.

It’s in the simple beauty of nature, where our faith and hope are often greatly impacted.

Have a great day!

(This was first published at theroadreport.wordpress.com.)

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What Are We Spreading?

A manure spreader doesn’t make for a real appealing photo subject to most folks.  I realize this – even if it’s horse-drawn, and found on an Amish farm.

I lived in the country when I was growing up.  Whenever one of the neighbors was spreading manure on their fields, Mom would sometimes ask my sister and me if we could “smell that fresh country air”.  To a former farm girl, I suppose that she figured that there weren’t many things more “fresh” smelling than newly-spread manure.  Perhaps, that was one of the reasons why she didn’t mind not having to farm as an adult!

We realize that manure is a natural fertilizer.  It provides valuable nutrients for the soil.  In addition, for farmers with livestock, spreading it on fields is a cost-effective manner of removing the livestock-generated waste material.

There’s another aspect of manure that many probably overlook:  how corrosive it can be.  I saw this firsthand recently, when I saw a farmer pulling a liquid manure spreader.  A large portion of the tank’s top had rusted away – likely from years of hauling waste, exposing the inside of the spreader.

Images of farmers spreading manure provide us with a couple of powerful lessons.

As manure helps crops grow, our words and actions can also have a positive effect on others – helping to encourage them.

However, we must be cautious.  Our words can take root like a random kernel of grain or a weed seed that may be found in manure.  Whether intentional or not, just like a manure spreader throwing its contents over a field, what we say and do can be thrown around in such a way as to inflict pain on others.

A manure spreader is a powerful reminder that we must be careful with our words and actions.  We can spread something that encourages growth – or, that is corrosive.

Let’s be sure that what we say doesn’t hurt and poison others.  Rather, may our lives and actions be lived out in a way that will promote and nurture kindness and grace to all who we may encounter.

Have a great day!

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up…”  –  1  Thessalonians 5:11a (NIV)

(This was first published at theroadreport.wordpress.com.)

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Easter – Jesus and Others

We don’t always see trials, problems or people as blessings. Instead, they’re often viewed as obstacles, inconveniences and irritations to our plans.

What if Jesus had seen us in the same way? After all, He had to leave Heaven to take on our dirt, guilt and shame.

He could have seen us as obstacles, nuisances and frustrations that had to be dealt with.

Yet, Jesus saw each of us with compassion and love – chosen ones who His Father had created, and He was willing to die for.

Easter is a time to remember Jesus’ love for us. It’s also a reminder that life isn’t about you and me, but all about Him.

Let His love be a reminder of how we should treat and view others.

Have a great day!

(This was first published at theroadreport.wordpress.com.)

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